MBA in Germany- Do or Don’t

I am an MBA graduate from the International University of Applied Sciences, Berlin Germany. Formerly named IUBH which a lot of people know it as and now it is called IU.

My course was a 1.5 years programme including 3 months of orientation programme.

Disclaimer: The information is purely based on my experience in MBA International marketing in IUBH, it does not apply to any other programme or university. Also, I started my MBA in the year 2019, fee structure, and courses might have changed now but there isn’t much difference in the degree, visa or jobs. Please do your research accordingly. All the best 🙂

Okay first let’s talk about what subjects I studied in my course.

Course content:-

My specialization was in International Marketing which is a very lucrative career right now. I chose this field because I am interested in consumer psychology and content writing.

Although the subjects I studied in Marketing mostly consisted of consumer behaviour, brand management and traditional marketing. I am pursuing digital marketing now. I would say that these subjects are fundamental for any kind of marketing.

Note- I enjoyed my studies, but still studying them did not make me ready for a job.

Requirements to apply:-

To be eligible for an MBA programme in IUBH, you must have work experience of at least or over 2 years. An experience letter is required as proof.

Structure of the course:

1. Orientation programme- This was a 3 months programme before the start of the actual semester. We had several international speakers discussing different topics. It was like a fun session to know each other and was optional.
2. First semester- In the first semester, we studied common business subjects like leadership, finance, economics, and management.
3. Second semester- I had various options to choose a specialization amongst marketing, avaition, finance, IT, healthcare.
4. Third semester- This was the last semester and held online due to covid. Students are required to register for their thesis by this time. Although the university gives time to do this.

MBA 90 ECTS or 60 ECTS?

There is no difference in both programmes. The difference is only in the semesters. Let’s see the similarities first:-

1. Subjects are same
2. There is no difference in thesis, projects, classes or student benefits

Differences:-

1. To apply for 60 ECTS, your bachelor’s needs to be of 4 years. If your bachelor’s duration is less than 4 years, either you can apply for a diploma to compensate for the period or take the 90 ECTS programme.
2. The thesis semester falls on the last semester in both of the programmes although the time given for submission may vary.

IUBH has kept the two programmes as an option for students to be able to choose their study duration flexibly.

Which course is recommended?

I get a lot of requests on how to choose the course. Of course, my suggestion is to go for the course, you want to build your career in later. In Germany, students are required to find a job related to the field they study in, in order to apply for a work visa. While choosing the course, consider other factors as well such as :-

1. Expense- MBA is one of the most expensive courses in Germany. It will cost you around 30,000 euros for the study if you are taking a 1.5 years course and 22,000 for a 1-year course from a private university.
2. Market value- MBA is a very sought out career option among the business professionals and it is a respected degree as well but keep in mind, it does not in any way guarantee a job.
3. German language- In order to grow or even get a job in Germany, it is utmost required to know the German language. One should be able to hold a conversation in German. Since it is so important here, I have a separate section on this so keep reading.

MBA vs other masters

A lot of my college mates opted for master’s (non-MBA programmes) and they are well settled now. Sometimes, even landed better job positions than MBAs.

So my recommendation is to go for any course as long as it has a market value. There are some degrees in Germany which are absolutely free but I know graduates are struggling to find a job here because the jobs in their field are few.

The most lucrative jobs in Germany along with the German language requirement.

Thesis resources:

IUBH gives 3 semesters to finish the thesis in MBA 90 ECTS programme. One must register a few months before submission. During this time, students can work full-time for 6 months or part-time all year.

It is advisable to finish the thesis as soon as possible because post graduation opens up a lot of opportunities for job seekers.

The best resources to assist you in your project are:-

1. Google Scholar– Find citable academic journals, and articles on any topic.
2. Research gate– Citable journals, articles, books
3. Scribber– Plagiarism checker and research blogs.
4. Quillbot– Paraphrase sentences

How to choose a university:-

Private universities are very expensive in Germany but of course, it comes with its own convenience. It is relatively easier to take admission and pass exams. Private universities are generally lenient on students.

Public universities on the other hand, are free with very little fee and provide a lot more exposure and opportunities such as collaboration with other universities, huge campuses, international crowd etc. Still, the exams are very tough and you need to be willing to put your mind and efforts in the course.

If your purpose is purely to enter Germany and get a degree with no nonsense then private universities are the best option for you but if you want to save money and luckily are able to secure a seat in a public university then there is no reason to think twice. Take it!

To this date, IUBH is the best option in private universities as they provide all the student benefits like other public ones. Other private universities do not provide such benefits to their students although they are pretty cheap too. So they all are good options to take.

Note- There are some shady universities as well so do thorough research.

Working and studying

There is something wrong in the above sentence. Did you notice it? It should be studying and working not the other way around. I mean it! If you want to be successful here or in any job market. You must focus on studying and by studying I mean taking actively part in college activities, self-studying. taking courses, applying for internships, keeping yourself up-to-date with the current affairs in your field.

If you think of taking a full-time temporary job as a student that has nothing to do with your career then you are shooting yourself in the foot. Sure there is hell a lot of student jobs here for English speakers but that does not mean that you spend all your time making money and taking Europe tour.

Why am stressing on it? because this is the biggest mistake I see Indian students make in Berlin for the sake of money. Keep your goals in mind and focus on long-term growth. You might even get expelled for working more than the permitted hours (if they are way more) or working illegally.

By saying that, it is of course important to do part-time jobs to survive here. In Berlin, there are many jobs for English speakers like fast food restaurants. Cafe, warehouses, driving jobs, malls etc which you can find easily.

For more detail on finding a part-time job, check my article here.

Accommodation

Berlin used to be one of the cheapest metropolitan cities in Germany but since the last few years, it has become more and more expensive. With the increasing population, the apartments are getting harder to find.

Small towns in Germany are relatively cheap. They are also quiet, with less international presence and a low tolerance for English language.

As a student, you have multiple options to find a place to stay:-

1. Studentenwerk– This is an association that provides cheap accommodation to students. They have residences all over Germany. The waiting times are generally very long but it is still possible to get a place. It is suggested to register here as soon as you get the admission letter. This is the best option among all as they provide private rooms or studio apartments at the cheapest rates. Note- Some universities may not be tied with Studentenwerk, in that case getting a room here is not possible.
2. Roomshare- Considering the situation in Berlin, often students share private rooms or apartments. If you have friends or family here, alternatively you can also reach out to people on social media.
3. Renting apartments- There are various sites that provide apartments. These generally range from 500 eur to any amount. The best sites to look for are Berlinovo, Gewobag, wg-gesucht, Wohnen.de

Association with upGrad:-

Many people know me from my seminar at upGrad, if you choose to go with IUBH, upGrad has a great offer where you can take a course at an affordable price. I would suggest taking it only if you find it suitable. They also have a team to answer all your queries. Clear all your doubts before taking a decision.

If you interested in knowing all about this association of IUBH with upGrad, then I suggest you see this video 🙂 It will be helpful.

Living in Germany- Is it worth it?

Yes, living in Germany is definitely worth it. I learned a lot of skills here that I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced. Living here gives you lots of opportunities but you should be willing to accept the hard times that are bound to come with it.

Upsides:

1. Summers in Germany are very beautiful and you, of course, get to see the whole of Europe.
2. There is a lot to do here especially if you are a sports person.
3. A lof of professionals live here because of great work-life balance.
4. A huge population of students you can hang out with.

Downsides:

1. Winters in Germany are long and depressing. Be willing to embrace it no matter what.
2. It can get lonely, especially in Berlin or small towns since the cultural difference is huge. Keep your goals straight and focus on them.
3. Language barriers are huge here. Even though it might not be a big problem in day-to-day life, this issue surfaces during job hunting here. Learning the least basic German is essential for survival.

I hope this has answered most of your questions but you still got them. Feel free to post them in the comments section below 🙂 I will make sure to reply to each one of them. It’s me, signing off. Good luck to you!